Chapter 18: In the City of Gamul
"Yeah, we got here all right. The competition proper starts tomorrow at nine. Yes, yes… I didn't forget my costume…I didn't forget the accessories either… Oh, stop worrying, Annette! I should be the one who's uptight, not you!!" Mint rolled her eyes. "Whatever. 'kay, bye." She clicked off the cellphone before handing it back to Tonia.
"Forgive her, she's just a little excited. More than we are, actually," Tonia explained. She and Mint were sharing a hotel room for their stay in Gamul City. They were supposed to be three to a room (excepting the coach, of course), but when Kirielle found out that she was staying with the team captain and team manager, she loudly complained that she would rather eat lead marinated in a pigsty, and therefore the deputy captain wound up staying with some first years for the duration of the games. "Have you heard? Kirielle's brother is coming to watch us."
Mint sniffed irritably. "Like I care."
"Just a thought," Tonia shrugged. "You guys really should at least try to get along."
"When she stops being such a snotty brat, maybe I will."
Tonia couldn't help but smile. "You know, I think I've heard Kirielle say the exact same thing."
And then a white pillow hit Tonia in the face.
"Say, Tonia, want to go visit some ruins?" Mint asked the upperclassman the next morning after the opening ceremonies.
Tonia replied sternly, "Shouldn't you be training?"
"Hooky, hooky, hooky," Mint was muttering under her breath, but she looked up when she realized Tonia had asked her a question. She batted her eyes in her most amicable (not to mention mock-pleading) manner. "Just this once? I've practiced so hard back in Carona. We'll only be in Gamul a week, and besides, the gymnastics competition isn't until the third day."
"Well, since you put it that way…" Tonia grinned at her. "Why not? When are we going?"
Mint grinned back. "Right now."
Gamul was a city also famous for its ruins, although those of Gamul were neither as numerous nor as ancient as the ruins of Carona were reputed to be. Legend had it that they were built by the same mythical beings, yet the architectural styles of the ruins were significantly different from each other. The Carona ruins were almost entirely made of stone, varying from the roughly-hewn type to the white and weathered smooth, rising up to extreme heights like the Winding Tower or delving deep underground like the Tunnels and the Lake Ruins. The Gamul ruins on the other hand were made of wood and always to be found on ground level.
But Mint had a certain partiality for heights, brought about by her love of her mountainous homeland, so she dragged Tonia to the tallest of the ruins that could be found in Gamul. This one was a small temple, with several stained glass windows lining the side walls and a bell tower at the back.
The first thing that struck them when they entered the temple were the windows. Truly impressive, wall-size pictures of the mythical Aeons in intricate detail, painted in the late morning light. "They aren't stained glass," Tonia was gaping openly. "They're made of thousands of butterfly wings, amazingly preserved in clear resin…"
While her companion gazed wide-eyed at the picture windows, Mint decided to climb. The temple's bell tower was nowhere near half as tall as Carona's Winding Tower, but it would have to do. Up the spiraling staircase she went, and upon reaching the top she turned her gaze upon the horizon.
To the west was Gamul city, larger than most of the cities she had passed in her travels, and more than thrice the size the town of Carona. To the south were mostly forest and grassland, as well as the said town and its ruins, although Carona was too far away for her to see from where she was. She turned to the east.
The East, where her home was… The Ghost Temple should be somewhere to the East too. She shook her head. East wasn't where she wanted her thoughts to fly to right now. She decided to climb back down.
Rue was in an internet café somewhere in downtown Junon, checking his email. He had asked for a (relatively) private cubicle from the nice saleslady, so that he could hold a video conference with Klaus over the internet. It was imperative that the professor got the data from the Ghost Temple immediately.
"Well? Are these really the schematics that we're looking for?" The lag time was bad, and the video skipped a few frames every now and then, but Rue could see the professor nod an affirmative.
"I've been through the data over and over, Rue. I think Prima's genetic code holds another key to the puzzle."
First the ruins and the tunnels, then the schematics, and now genetics? What in the world did we get ourselves into?! "I don't understand, professor. Why would Prima's DNA suddenly be important? I don't want him involved any further than he already is."
"I don't either. That's why I've thought of creating some sort of… simulation of his DNA, something that would fool the sensors like we found in the underground tunnel doorways. Incidentally, Elroy's notes included schematics for such a device, although the circuit does need several modifications…" he trailed off. "I don't think it's a coincidence that Elroy knew about this. Truth to tell, the more I discover, the more I don't understand what's going on. This thing seems to be a lot bigger than either you and I had imagined at the start."
Rue sighed heavily in frustration. And yet we are no closer to finding Claire… "I suppose this means you're sending me on another quest." It wasn't a question. "What do you need now?"
"After the Junon competition, I want you to go straight to the Raging Mountains to meet an old acquaintance of mine. Eugene Wylaf, hermit and inventor extraordinaire—we need the perpetual power supplies he invented a couple of years ago. You would need a disc card to enter his lab's premises though, but don't bother going back to Carona for it." A slight pause. "I don't have proof, but… I'm starting to get worried. There's a machination out there that has started moving, Rue, I'm sure of it. I think we are running out of time."
"But how will I get the disc card? You know how fast and reliable snail mail runs in this Continent…"
"I'll send someone to meet you. Besides, Wylaf is a little on the …eccentric side. I think you might need some help in talking to him."
"Well, what did you think?" Kirielle asked as she walked up to her brother among the bleachers. "Not a bad performance if I do say so myself, although I think I did better in practice…"
Karwyn nodded thoughtfully. "Pretty good. 8.9 technical, 9.2 for style," he indicated the scoreboard. "You'd win first easily if the previous performances are any indication of how good the participants in this competition are."
"Thanks, bro. But you haven't seen what's-her-face perform yet." Her eyes narrowed involuntarily. "She's right after this one."
"Well, I'd still be rooting for you," he grinned, teasing his sister. He sat back and waited for the current performer to end. "8.5, 8.5," he read the scores aloud.
"Here she comes," Kirielle pointed. "I haven't actually seen her entire dance sequence, but the others do tell me that…" she seethed angrily, "Mint Vanguard really is a shoo-in for first place." She and her brother watched as Mint, wielding her Dual Haloes and waving cheerfully at the audience, took her position in the middle of the dance floor. The soft music sounded from the speakers, and Mint began to dance.
Karwyn suddenly sat up straighter in his seat. He might be extremely myopic, but even to him, the red hair and twin ponytails were unmistakable. "That's Mint Vanguard?!"
"Yes! (You can be really annoying sometimes, brother dearest, did you know that?) I told you she's the splitting image of Lulu-Cecille except for the hair."
"That's not Mint Vanguard, that's Mint East Heaven! And she looks like Lucine. (Where did you come up with a name like 'Lulu-Cecille' anyway?! I can see why you hate her so much, though—she's good)" He chuckled softly. "George is going to throw another tantrum when he finds out that the missing princess had been hiding under our noses the entire time."
"You can't be serious?!" Kirielle almost shouted that last in her astonishment. "That's… her?! No way…!!" Mint could not be the missing princess. Princesses were supposed to be demure and high-class, not bratty and tomboyish, and besides, Mint came to Carona practically as a beggar over a year ago. Kirielle couldn't believe that she had completely missed it the whole time… And then something dawned on her. "Yeeesss way. If she's Mint East Heaven, then that means she has the inborn magick too?"
Karwyn raised one eyebrow. "Something tells me you're hatching a scheme, sister dearest?"
She was grinning like a feral cat that had just located fresh prey. "Let's just say that the Carona High gymnastics team captain has finally bent one rule so much that it would turn around to stab her in the back."
Straight to the locker room she went after the thunderous applause she received for her performance, and Mint almost tripped over her own two feet in her haste. She closed the door carefully behind her, dismissing her ecstatic teammates with excuses that she wanted to be alone for a moment to clean up, and the next thing she knew she was leaning heavily against the dressing room wall. She cursed mentally when she realized that she was having trouble breathing. Her vision turned double, her knees buckled, and she almost fell.
She felt an arm go about her upper body, supporting her, and she looked up. "T-Tonia?"
"Come on, Mint," the upperclassman grunted as she helped Mint to the nearest bench. She sat down beside the redhead. "What happened?" Mint could only shake her head weakly. "Let's get back to our room, okay?" She carefully pulled Mint's arm over her shoulder and placed her hand on the girl's waist, preparing to half-carry her all the way if need be. But Mint squeezed Tonia's shoulder before Tonia could pull her up. Tonia looked at the other quizzically. Mint shook her head, indicating that she was still too fatigued to walk, and they both sat back down again.
Mint leaned heavily against Tonia and closed her eyes. "Tonia, don't…" she whispered through gritted teeth, "don't tell Rue or Annette about this."
Mint won first place. Kirielle grabbed second. It didn't come as a surprise to anyone, really.
It was a long and quiet ride train back home—at least, it was quiet on Mint's part. While everyone was at the impromptu party in the train's luxury car (where the cafeteria was located), she preferred the solitude of gazing out the window in her own seat. Sure, Mint loved parties, especially when she was the center of attention (as she was bound to be in this one—she won first place!), but somehow… there was something missing tonight. Odd, she couldn't put her finger on it, and even she was surprised at herself. Perhaps I'm just too tired… which was another odd thing actually. As far as she knew, she was hyperactive to the extreme. She used to sniff like nothing at seven hours straight of hiking through the forest trails of her homeland. The fainting episode in the locker room with Tonia was the first time for her.
She shook her head, confused. No, fatigue wasn't it. A mental strain? Something in her subconscious? [Expletive], maybe I just think too much… Perhaps it was better if she just slept for the rest of the ride. But no matter how many times she closed her eyes and tried to keep them shut, sleep simply wouldn't come.
They arrived in Carona the late afternoon. Everyone else went directly home, except for Tonia, who could still catch a late school fair committee meeting if she hurried, and Mint, who just felt like dropping off her costume into her gymnasium locker.
The Kendo training hall was empty when she passed it. He's not back yet… A soft sigh escaped her lips, although she herself wasn't aware. She entered the gymnastics hall, went straight to her locker, and had just placed her costume and accessories into it when she decided to try the dance once more. Just to try out her own strength. She had no radio, but she could always hum the tune.
Thirty minutes, and she was able to do the entire sequence three times before she started to tire. She frowned at herself, confused. That's funny. When she performed in Gamul, she didn't even do a single practice run, but she wasn't as fatigued now as she was then.
Something seemed to click in her mind. She ran over to her locker, took out the bracelets and quickly put them on. She turned to gaze outside the window. On impulse, she tried to cast the rainshower spell.
Nothing. She concentrated, harder this time. Still nothing. Again, try it again! Her breathing abruptly went ragged, her vision turned double, and she was forced to sit down. [Expletive]!! Hurriedly and clumsily she pulled off the bracelets, practically throwing them to the opposite end of the locker room away from her in alarm.
She stood up gingerly. She looked out the window again. She was already drained, but she needed to be sure. She concentrated once more, and again tried to cast the rainshower spell. The cloud that formed in the garden was small, very feeble, and yielded only a few drops, but the fact was that she was able to cast it.
It was a trick! Belle tricked her with the bracelets! But… no… Belle said that it was Coach Mira who wanted her to wear them. But Belle wouldn't lie to her, would she? Belle might be her 'enemy', but she wouldn't stoop so low as to… but that would mean that it was Mira who tricked both of them? Or that the older women were in cahoots against her? That doesn't make any sense at all! Mint ran to the bracelets and picked them up. Belle probably didn't suspect that she'd find out so quickly. She had to know what these things really were and what they did, and fast, before—
A knock on the training hall doorjamb, and Mint almost jumped in surprise. She turned, hastily pocketing the bracelets. "What is it, Elena?"
"Hi, Mint!" Elena greeted cheerily as she quickly walked up to the redhead. "Congratulations on winning first place! Tonia told me you were here, and she told me all about it, too! She said your performance was so awesome, and I really wish I could have seen it…" Elena talked so fast and grinned so wide Mint could have sworn that the girl was perpetually high on sugar, and she was surprised that Elena didn't actually glomp her. But, that was Elena for you. "…Hey, Mint!" she continued, "Mama said you guys could be excused from classes two days next week! And, well…" she held up a disc card to Mint. "Papa was asking if you could deliver this to Rue."
Mint raised one eyebrow quizzically. "Deliver this to Rue…? Why don't you do it yourself? And besides, the Kendo team is still in Junon…"
"Nuh-uh," Elena shook her head. "The boys got back this morning—they're excused from classes too—but Rue went straight to the Raging Mountains. That's west past a couple of towns away from here."
"And what would be in the Raging Mountains that Rue would find so interesting?" Mint asked as she took the disc card from Elena.
"I don't know. Papa and Mama wouldn't say much about it. I guess they think that Rue could explain it better to you…" she trailed off, clasping her hands behind her back thoughtfully. "Anyway, Papa said that Rue needs the disc card to enter this lab thingy of Mr. Wylaf. And that, well… you should go with him when he visits Mr. Wylaf." She shrugged. "Papa also says you should leave as soon as possible."
There seem to be a lot of things that you guys aren't telling us, Mint thought as she pocketed the disc card, but she kept such negative reflections to herself. The bracelets would have to wait as well. Whatever this puzzle was that she had inadvertently stumbled upon, she and Rue seem to be at the losing end of it. That is, if Rue isn't already in on this together with them.
Author's Notes
15 January 2003. FINE! BE THAT WAY! I GIVE UP! _. Frustrated authors are… well, frustrated. "I tell you frankly my dear, blink and you will miss something."
YES I WAS BEING SINCERE ABOUT THAT 'BORING' COMMENT, BECAUSE, IMO, THE RECENT CARONA HIGH CHAPTERS *ARE* BORING, at least compared to the ending chapters when everything goes up in figurative heckfire. I bash my own work worse than any of you guys could ever do (or probably imagine. Never less than five read-through-and-rewrite/s every upload—it's the only way someone as unskilled as me can turn up something like this that will actually pass for a fanfic. Adi is no writer, she just tries reeeaaalllyy hard). IMHO, the story drags in the middle parts, although it picks up a little since the If You Believe chapter (my personal fave) is coming up in three, but it will drag again come the Tower of Maya and Prima rescue. And I'm losing my readers… sniff, but I just can't (can't, can't, can't, can't) go directly to the relatively-not-so-boring parts without muddling through whatever it is that is necessary for me to muddle through. No, I DON'T HAVE A BETA, I HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR ONE SINCE CHAPTER FOUR BUTBUTbutbutbut… X_x… Oh, does anyone out there volunteer to be Adi's beta-ed for Carona High?
Ryan, you've shouted in my ear, forgot to give me ice cream, turned me into a duck, edited my (your brother's?) Shadow pic without permission, copped a feel for my avatar (albeit that was accidental), had the gall to make fun of my cooking, and in that recent review you just banged my head repeatedly with a stick. (If you don't hate me now then I certainly don't want to get on your worser(?) side.) But, as it is, BE VERY GRATEFUL THAT OUR HOMELANDS ARE SEPARATED BY TWO OCEANS BOTH WAYS (or Adi is friggin' gonna hunt you down and physically maim you)!! *Adi brandishes really scary longsword at Ryan*… Just joshing. ^_~. I still say your guess is probably wrong. Thanks for the vote of confidence. ^_^.
X_x… I promise, no flying off the handle next author's notes. ^_^.
Special thanks this chapter goes to: Kawaii Doll, Tenshi Kanashimi, Victoria, Cherry-chan (formerly known as Harimehness and Cherry Lee before that), Lady of the Blue Moon, Lady Foxfire 195, Nagia, Shadow Duo, Liol, and Kawaii Doll (again). Yes, you are all loved. Sniffles…